Frank Warren has revealed that an injury to
Daniel Dubois prevented him from fighting
Joseph Parker on Oct. 25 instead of
Fabio Wardley.
The O2 Arena clash between Queensberry-promoted duo Parker and Wardley on that date was officially confirmed at a launch press conference Tuesday in central London.
Parker (36-3, 24 KOs) is the WBO interim titleholder and next in line to face undisputed king
Oleksandr Usyk. The New Zealander had been hoping to get his shot next, but when an injury ruled Usyk out for another few months, Parker decided to fight in the meantime.
Now Warren says it was a different British puncher who had emerged as their first option only for another injury to allow WBA interim champion Wardley (19-0-1, 18 KOs) to jump in and get his chance instead.
Dubois’ last outing ended in a
crushing fifth round defeat to Usyk, who recaptured the IBF title at Wembley Stadium on July 19. The 28-year-old has since split with trainer Don Charles and has been linked with a move to Essex-based Tony Sims.
Whoever is in his corner, Dubois is not expected back in the ring until January earliest, which precluded him from facing Parker.
“Daniel has got to get himself back in the swing but he won’t fight again until the new year, he’s got an injury," Warren said. “We were trying to make Joe against Daniel for this October show, but he’s injured and that’s how Fabio jumped in.”
Parker and Dubois were infamously matched for a Riyadh Season clash on Feb. 22 at ANB Arena only for the Englishman to pull out during fight week citing illness. Parker, who lost out on his shot at the IBF title as a result, instead boxed last-gasp replacement Martin Bakole, who he stopped in the second round. That was the 33-year-old’s last outing.
Wardley, 30, returns to the ring for the first time
since he stopped Justis Huni in the 10th round of their dramatic June clash.